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Barons Stuff Hawks

HAMBURG, NY - Franciscan University led from start to finish en route to their 60-40 victory over Hilbert College in women’s basketball January 19. Lacey Huck led all scorers with 16 points making five of six from the foul line. Natalie Whitman and Jenah Labuski flushed 8 points each while reserves Amber Grosch and Erin Smith {in photo to right} netted seven apiece. Hilbert moved to 1-10 and Franciscan improved to 3-8 in AMCC.

Hilbert’s Sarah Lorusso knotted the game at 2-2 before the Barons went on an uninterrupted 6-0 surge. Hilbert then responded with layups by Lorusso, Whitman and Labuski, creating an 8-8 tie. Then, after both teams traded baskets for the next two minutes, Franciscan slowly built their 28-14 advantage at the break. Hilbert shot 27% from the floor and held Franciscan to 29% although the Barons sank 4 of 9 three-point shots shutting the Hawks down (0-7).

After the break, Hilbert, looking to change the rhythm of the game, extended their defense to full court midway thru the period, only to find themselves in a bigger hole by 10:20. At 7:10, coach Peterson made a wholesale change and inserted Labuski, Lauren Eggleston, Erin Smith, Amber Grosch and Jenna Crans. That line-up played with great intensity and gave great effort cutting the deficit to 20 by the final horn.

Hilbert won the battle of the boards (45-37) but finished the game shooting 30.4% from the floor. Franciscan forced 28 Hawk turnovers and made six of 13 shots from behind the three-point line.

Hilbert has a few days off before they return home for their AMCC battle against cross-town rival Medaille College January 23 at 6pm. The Mavericks bring a 9-1 record and a hold on first place in the AMCC league.

Hilbert College, located in suburban Hamburg, N.Y., south of Buffalo, is a private four-year college founded in 1957 in the Catholic Franciscan tradition. With nearly 1,100 students, Hilbert is a dynamic Western New York college that offers career-focused majors, including one of the top criminal justice programs in the region, and more than 50 minors and concentrations. The college’s engaging, student-centered campus community offers numerous leadership, internship, and service learning opportunities from which students launch successful careers while making positive changes in their communities. The Hilbert Blueprint promotes a well-rounded student experience over four years – starting with the Foundations Seminar in the freshman year, followed by Sophomore Service, Junior Symposium, and culminating with the Senior Capstone. Hilbert has expanded its academic offerings with the college’s first graduate programs and new Accelerated Degree Programs geared to adult learners.